Device for covering the slidways of machine tools

ABSTRACT

A covering device for the slideway of a machine tool, which comprises a plurality of boxes successively decreasing in size so as to be adapted to telescope in each other, each of said boxes having a top wall and two sidewalls extending in the longitudinal direction of and being connected to said top wall, each of said boxes also having a rear wall connected to the pertaining sidewalls, the top walls of each two adjacent and successive boxes when in at least partially telescoped condition defining passage means with each other, and collecting channel means communicating with said passage means and arranged on the outside of the respective smaller box of each two adjacent successive boxes.

United States Patent [72] Inventor KurtLoos [56] References CitedDreis-Tiefenbach, Germany UNITED STATES PATENTS [21] P 784;, 2,831,4484/1958 Suderow l60/202X [22] 3,425,481 2/1969 Klein 160/202 [45]Patented 1 71 3,429,356 2/1969 Loos m1. 160/202 [73] AssigneeKabelschlepp GmbH Schulstrasse, Siegen, Westphalia, Germany FOREIGNPATENTS [32] Priority Dec. 21, 1967 48,080 3/1940 Netherlands 160/202[33] Germany Primary Examiner-Peter M. Caun [31] 16 02 Attorney-WalterBecker ABSTRACT: A covering device for the slideway of a machine tool,which comprises a plurality of boxes successively decreasing in size soas to be adapted to telescope in each other, each of said boxes having atop wall and two sidewalls [54] a i %Q B THE SLIDEWAYS F extending inthe longitudinal direction of and being connected to said top wall, eachof said boxes also having a rear wall con- Clams 4 Drawmg nected to thepertaining sidewalls, the top walls of each two [52] U.S. Cl 160/202,adjacent and successive boxes when in at least partially 160/222telescoped condition defining passage means with each other, [51] Int.Cl E05d /06 and collecting channel means communicating with said Fieldof Search /197, passage means and arranged on the outside of therespective 202, 222; 308/35 smaller box of each two adjacent successiveboxes.

DEVICE FOR COVERING THE SLIDEWAYS OF MACHINE TOOLS The present inventionrelates to an arrangement for covering the slideways of machine tools,which arrangement comprises a plurality of telescoping boxes each ofwhich has a top wall extending parallel to the plane of the slideway,two sidewalls extending in the longitudinal direction of the slideway,and a rear wall interposed between said sidewalls.

Cover arrangements or devices of the aforementioned kind are intended toprevent dust, cuttings or liquids from penetrating into theoil-circulating passages of the machine tool and into the enclosed spaceabove the slideway or slideways. To this end, the gaps between theindividual boxes are sealed off by seals with suitably designedlips'and/or by wiper strips. In the heretofore known devices of theaforedescribed kind, despite the presence of the lip seals or wiperstrips, it is impossible to completely prevent the entry of water. Inparticular where large quantities of water are present and are spillingover the cover, the lip seals or wiper strips will let some water passthrough with each stroke. In this connection, there also exists thedanger that the water may entrain very fine dust particles and carrythem onto the slideways or into the oil circuit of the machine tool.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a covering device ofthe aforementioned general type, which will overcome the above outlineddrawbacks.

It is another object of the present invention to design a coveringdevice for the slideways of machine tools, which while comprising aplurality of telescoping boxes will prevent water and dust and otherimpurifications from passing into the slideway or into the oil circuit.

It is a further object of this invention with a device as set forth inthe preceding paragraph to seeto it that water or dust which haspenetrated beneath the lip seals or wiper strips, into the space betweenthe top and sidewalls of the boxes, will be reliably prevented fromreaching the slideway and the oil circuit.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear moreclearly from the following specification in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates in side elevation the bed of a machine tool withlateral overhangs and covering means at either end of a tool slide.

FIG. 2 is a section through a cover box and the bed of a machine tool,said section being taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates on a larger scale than FIG. 1 two cover boxes, saidsection being taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is another embodiment of the invention, in which the collectorgroove takes the form of a crease.

Starting with a known covering device for the slideways of machinetools, which comprises telescoping boxes each having a top wallextending parallel to the slideway plane, two sidewalls extending in thelongitudinal direction of the slideway, and a rear wall intermediatelydisposed of the latter, the present invention is characterized primarilyin that bn the external side'of the rear wall of each box there isprovided a collector groove.

According to one practical embodiment of the invention, the collectorgroove may be formed by a spacer strip downwardly offset with regard tothe plane of the top wall and by a splash wall. According to anothermodified embodiment of the invention, however, it is equally possible tomake the collector groove in the form of a U-section or L-sectionprofiled strip, preferably of synthetic material.

Again, it has been found convenient to arrange for the splash wall orthe vertical leg of the strip to protrude beyond the plane of the topwall and of planes of the sidewalls, so that there is just a smallclearance between it and the inside of the box of next larger size. Thissubstantially improves the seal in the regionof overlap between thecovering boxes. A further improvement in the sealing action can beachieved if the splash wall or the strip, is made of an elastic materialand bears against the inside of the box of next larger size.

Also, it has proved expedient to give the collector groove a certaindrop towards one sidewall or to give it a ridge-shaped line so thatthere is a drop towards both sidewalls.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, on the bed 1 of a machine tool(not illustrated), there is arranged a tool slide or carriage 2 which islongitudinally displaceable. At either end of the tool slide 2, coveringdevices are provided which comprise a plurality of boxes able totelescope into one another over cantilever arrangements 4.

Each box has a top wall 5, two sidewalls 6 and a rear wall 7 locatedbetween said sidewalls 6. In the rear wall 7, supporting rollers 8 areprovided by means of which the cover boxes rest upon the slideways 9 ofthe bed 1 of the machine tool. At the forward end, each box rests uponthe box of next smaller size through the medium of a wiper strip 11. Inaddition to the wiper strip 11, a lip seal 12 is provided between twoboxes 3.

To the outside of the rear wall 7 of each box there are fixed a spacerstrip 13 and a splash wall 14. Since the spacer strip-1'3 is offsetslightly downwardly and inwardly in relation to the, planes of top wall5 and sidewalls 6, at the rear wall 7 of each box 3 a collector groove15 is formed. The collector groove 15, is open at the bottom end of thesidewalls.

If, during the telescopingextending or contracting movements of theboxes 3, water penetrates beneath the lip seals 12 and the wiper strips11, into the space between the top walls 5 and sidewalls 6, then it isdeflected to one side through the collector groove 15 and drained off atthe bottom. In order to assist the water to displace more rapidly, thegroove 15 has a certain drop.

Also, dust not associated with water is captured by the collector grooveand deflectedto one side and out underneath, because the splash wall 14has only a small clearance 16 from the inside of the box 3 of nextlarger size.

If, for reasons of space, the cover device is to be as short as possiblein the contracted state, the collector groove 15 may also be arranged inthe box itself and take the form of a corrugation or channel 17. Thechannel 17 is machined in the top wall 5 and the sidewalls 6, of eachbox 3. With this kind of design, the splash wall 14 consists of aseparately attached, strip 18 of any suitable light material. i

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by nomeans, limited to the specific showing in the drawing, but alsocomprises modifications within the scope of the ap pended claims.

I claim:

1. A covering device for the slideway of a machine tool, whichcomprises: a plurality of boxes successively decreasing in width andheight so as to be adapted to telescope in each other, each of saidboxes having a top wall and two sidewalls extending in the longitudinaldirection of and being connectedto said top wall, each of said boxesalso having a rear wall connected to the pertaining sidewalls, the topwalls of each two adjacent and successive boxes when in at leastpartially telescoped condition defining passage means with each otherand having a wiper strip between said top walls supporting the outer topwall on the inner top wall, and transversely extending fluid-collectingchannel means adjacent said rear wall communicating with said passagemeans and arranged on the outside of the respective smaller box of eachtwo adjacent successive boxes.

2. A covering device according to claim 1, in which saidfluid-collecting channel means is located on the outside of the rearwall of each box.

3. A covering device for the slideway of a machine tool, whichcomprises: a plurality of boxes successively decreasing in size so as tobe adapted to telescope in each other, each of said boxes having a topwall and two sidewalls extending in the longitudinal direction of andbeing connected to said top wall,

each. of said boxes also having a rear wall connected to the pertainingsidewalls, the top walls of each two adjacent and,

successive boxes when in at least partially telescoped condi}. I

two adjacent successive boxes, said channel means being formed by spacermeans offset downwardly and inwardly with regard to the plane of thepertaining top wall and sidewalls and by a splash wall arrangedsubstantially parallel to the pertaining rear wall and engaging saidspacer means while having its upper end extending close to the top wallof the respective next preceding larger box, said channel means beinglocated on the outside of the rear wall of each box.

4. A covering device according to claim 3, in which said collectingchannel means is formed by a rail connected to the pertaining rear wall.

5. A covering device according to claim 3, in which said collectingchannel means is formed progressively by a troughshaped rail connectedto the pertaining rear wall.

6. A covering device according to claim 3, in which the splash wall ofeach box slidably engages the top' wall of the next preceding largerbox.

7. A covering device according to claim 3, in which said collectingchannel means slopes to at least one side of the pertaining box.

8. A covering device for the slideway of a machine tool, whichcomprises: a plurality of boxes successively decreasing in size so as tobe adapted to telescope in each other, each of said boxes having a topwall and two sidewalls extending in the longitudinal direction of andbeing connected to said top wall, each of said boxes also having a rearwall connected to the pertaining sidewalls, the top walls of each twoadjacent and successive boxes when in at least partially telescopedcondition defining passage means with each other, collecting channelmeans communicating with said passage means and arranged on the outsideof respective smaller box of each two adjacent successive boxes, saidchannel means being located on the outside of the rear wall of each box,and a wall of said collecting channel means remote from the pertainingrear wall extending upwardly beyond the respective pertaining top walland forming a narrow air gap with the top wall of the respective nextpreceding larger box.

9. A covering device for the slideway of a machine tool, whichcomprises: a plurality of boxes successively decreasing in size so as tobe adapted to telescope in each other, each of said boxes having a topwall and two sidewalls extending in the longitudinal direction of andbeing connected to said top wall, each of said boxes also having a rearwall connected to the pertaining sidewalls, the top walls of each twoadjacent and successive boxes when in at least partially telescopedcondition defining passage means with each other, collecting channelmeans communicating with said passage means and arranged on the outsideof the respective smaller box of each two adjacent successive boxes,said channel means being located on the outside of the rear wall of eachbox, the collecting channel means being formed'by groove means in thepertaining top wall and at least one pertaining sidewall.

10. A covering device according to claim 9, in which'the rear portion ofsaid groove means is defined by a splash wall.

1. A covering device for the slideway of a machine Tool, whichcomprises: a plurality of boxes successively decreasing in width andheight so as to be adapted to telescope in each other, each of saidboxes having a top wall and two sidewalls extending in the longitudinaldirection of and being connected to said top wall, each of said boxesalso having a rear wall connected to the pertaining sidewalls, the topwalls of each two adjacent and successive boxes when in at leastpartially telescoped condition defining passage means with each otherand having a wiper strip between said top walls supporting the outer topwall on the inner top wall, and transversely extending fluid-collectingchannel means adjacent said rear wall communicating with said passagemeans and arranged on the outside of the respective smaller box of eachtwo adjacent successive boxes.
 2. A covering device according to claim1, in which said fluid-collecting channel means is located on theoutside of the rear wall of each box.
 3. A covering device for theslideway of a machine tool, which comprises: a plurality of boxessuccessively decreasing in size so as to be adapted to telescope in eachother, each of said boxes having a top wall and two sidewalls extendingin the longitudinal direction of and being connected to said top wall,each of said boxes also having a rear wall connected to the pertainingsidewalls, the top walls of each two adjacent and successive boxes whenin at least partially telescoped condition defining passage means witheach other, and collecting channel means communicating with said passagemeans and arranged on the outside of the respective smaller box of eachtwo adjacent successive boxes, said channel means being formed by spacermeans offset downwardly and inwardly with regard to the plane of thepertaining top wall and sidewalls and by a splash wall arrangedsubstantially parallel to the pertaining rear wall and engaging saidspacer means while having its upper end extending close to the top wallof the respective next preceding larger box, said channel means beinglocated on the outside of the rear wall of each box.
 4. A coveringdevice according to claim 3, in which said collecting channel means isformed by a rail connected to the pertaining rear wall.
 5. A coveringdevice according to claim 3, in which said collecting channel means isformed progressively by a trough-shaped rail connected to the pertainingrear wall.
 6. A covering device according to claim 3, in which thesplash wall of each box slidably engages the top wall of the nextpreceding larger box.
 7. A covering device according to claim 3, inwhich said collecting channel means slopes to at least one side of thepertaining box.
 8. A covering device for the slideway of a machine tool,which comprises: a plurality of boxes successively decreasing in size soas to be adapted to telescope in each other, each of said boxes having atop wall and two sidewalls extending in the longitudinal direction ofand being connected to said top wall, each of said boxes also having arear wall connected to the pertaining sidewalls, the top walls of eachtwo adjacent and successive boxes when in at least partially telescopedcondition defining passage means with each other, collecting channelmeans communicating with said passage means and arranged on the outsideof respective smaller box of each two adjacent successive boxes, saidchannel means being located on the outside of the rear wall of each box,and a wall of said collecting channel means remote from the pertainingrear wall extending upwardly beyond the respective pertaining top walland forming a narrow air gap with the top wall of the respective nextpreceding larger box.
 9. A covering device for the slideway of a machinetool, which comprises: a plurality of boxes successively decreasing insize so as to be adapted to telescope in each other, each of said boxeshaving a top wall and two sidewalls extending in the longitudinaldirection of and being connected to said top wall, each of said boxesalso having a rear wall connected to the pertaining sidewalls, the topwalls of each two adjacent and successive boxes when in at leastpartially telescoped condition defining passage means with each other,collecting channel means communicating with said passage means andarranged on the outside of the respective smaller box of each twoadjacent successive boxes, said channel means being located on theoutside of the rear wall of each box, the collecting channel means beingformed by groove means in the pertaining top wall and at least onepertaining sidewall.
 10. A covering device according to claim 9, inwhich the rear portion of said groove means is defined by a splash wall.